Book Corner from Tawa Newsletter

For the Tawa Resident's Association monthly newsletter, we write a small segment called Book Corner.  To check out the newsletters and other information from the Association visit

Tawa Residents' Association – Promoting a vibrant, energetic Tawa

For the August 2025 newsletter, we wrote

Wednesday, August 13th, a brilliant night out celebrating the winners and finalists of the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children & young Adult. A huge congrats to all involved, it was wonderful to be in the Pipitea Marae and filled with so much creativity! Having the talented Taita College performers One Heart, One Beat, waiata from the audience and winner Kaitito Elizabeth Gray performing too, made it a night to remember.

The supreme award – the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year was won by The Treaty of Waitangi by Ross Calman (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Kāi Tahu).

“The Treaty of Waitangi is a miracle of concision without sacrificing complexity. It is written clearly and inclusively without avoiding uncomfortable truths,” said judging convenors Mat Tait and Feana Tu‘akoi...”
“The judges said all the books in the running for the supreme award were superb examples of the fresh and intelligent literature written for tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa, but the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award recognises something more – an aspirational book of outstanding overall excellence.”
“After extensive discussion with both the bilingual and te reo Māori judging panels, we agreed unanimously on one book that will not only have significant impact on young readers, but is also particularly important for our time,” said the convenors”

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